If you are spending your days wrestling with weight gain, fatigue, and diminished sex drive, a hormone imbalance could be to blame. The professionals at Quench Wellness in Chicago, IL may be able to help with treatments such as BioTE hormone replacement.

Your hormones help ensure your body is functioning and communicating properly, allowing cells and organs to make appropriate changes. When hormones become imbalanced, side effects can plague your body with unwanted health issues and affect your day-to-day life. Is it time to look into BioTE therapy to reverse the negative signs of hormone imbalance?

What Is a Hormone?

Humans are conceived as a single cell. As the cell divides and new cells do the same, we are formed in individual ways. While our genes determine a lot of the traits we carry, hormones are chemicals equally important in making us unique. Hormones are a family of chemicals in the body.

Our bodies have tissues that secrete hormones into our blood and other bodily fluids. When the hormones reach cells, the cells interpret the chemicals as instructions. The hormone might instruct the cell to grow faster or to stop growing. They might instruct the cell to communicate hunger to the brain.

Another hormone can then tell the cell that your body is full and desires no more food. Other hormones can instruct your body to burn nutrients as fuel. Particular hormones, such as estrogen made by the female ovaries, instruct the female body to function differently than a male body.

Estrogen is just one of many hormones that have multiple roles. Estrogen affects a woman’s shape, milk production, bone strength, sexual characteristics, and more.

What Are Bioidentical Hormones?

Bioidentical hormones are hormones with the same molecular structure as the hormones naturally created in the female body. While bioidentical hormones are not found in a woman’s body, they are synthesized from natural sources such as yams or soy. Common bioidentical estrogen hormones include 17 beta-estradiol, estrone, and estriol.

Estradiol is the type of estrogen commonly lost during menopause. Bioidentical hormone replacement is an effective treatment because the bioidentical hormones act identically to the hormones your body is losing. The human body does not distinguish bioidentical hormones from hormones produced by the ovaries.

What Is a Hormone Imbalance?

When there is too much or not enough of a hormone in your bloodstream, you suffer from a hormone imbalance. It takes only a small imbalance to result in noticeable symptoms. Symptoms of hormone imbalance often include a number of direct and indirect difficulties.

Lack of Sleep

Hormonal imbalance can affect your sleeping patterns. Progesterone, released from the ovaries, helps you sleep. Imbalances can make it more difficult to fall asleep or maintain uninterrupted sleep. A decrease in estrogen levels can also affect sleeping due to night sweats and hot flashes.

Acne

It is not uncommon for women to experience breakouts correlating to their monthly menstrual cycles. Others suffer from more consistent acne concerns that are sometimes the result of a hormone imbalance.

When women have imbalanced levels of androgens, oil production can become excessive. Commonly considered a male hormone, both men and women have androgens, so the imbalance in females can be especially frustrating.

Clogged skin pores can lead to acne, and while the androgen hormones continue to engage excess oil production, the acne can be an ongoing issue. High androgen levels in women can also be related to other medical issues, so consulting a doctor is always wise.

Memory Difficulties

Ever walk into a room and forget why you went in there? It happens to us all, but it can be especially common among those with hormonal imbalances. Declining estrogen levels can play a role in memory difficulties, hand-in-hand with other symptoms. For instance, if hormonal imbalances are causing you to sleep less than your body needs, memory difficulties, a natural consequence of sleep deprivation, will be exacerbated.

Upset Stomach

Hormone receptor cells are active in the gastrointestinal lining, including receptors for estrogen and progesterone. The gastrointestinal system is naturally affected by the female menstrual cycle, leading to the stereotypical menstrual symptoms of bloating, constipation, and sometimes nausea.

Such hormonal fluctuations can become more exaggerated and unpredictable when hormonal imbalances come into play.

Cravings and Weight Gain

Low estrogen levels can lead to food cravings in women. The temporary relief of the craving through foods high in fat, sugar, and processed ingredients can lead to weight gain and later feelings of depression.

Leptin is a hormone that combats hunger, and our leptin levels are affected when estrogen is lacking. Not feeling full combined with unhealthy cravings can lead to a cycle of short-term relief and long-term weight gain.

Headaches

Estrogen levels often correlate to headaches. While there are many triggers that bring on headaches, declining estrogen is often one cause. For some, headaches are a debilitating symptom that can hinder work and relationships.

Vaginal Dryness

Low estrogen levels commonly lead to vaginal dryness. The wall of the vagina can become thinner, and sex can become painful. Not only is this difficult on the self-esteem of many women, but it can also affect relationships with spouses who do not understand the cause for a perceived lack of intimacy.

Lost Sex Drive

Sometimes, sex is avoided by women who suffer hormonal imbalances because it is painful. Other times, imbalances cause a noticeable reduction in sex drive. This can be difficult on marriages and relationships.

Even though testosterone is associated with men, both men and women produce testosterone, and it bears a direct impact on the sex drive of both genders. Testosterone can affect sex drive as well as sexual satisfaction, however, unwanted effects of testosterone in women require the careful oversight of a trained medical professional.

Changes in Breast Appearance

Hormone imbalance can also affect breast tissue. Depending on the severity of the imbalance, breasts may appear lumpy or asymmetrical. Sometimes cysts can even develop. Breast appearance can be an important part of our self-perception and confidence level, and imbalanced hormones can jeopardize both.

Fatigue

When imbalanced hormones result in sleeping difficulties, fatigue can be a natural consequence of a body with too little rest. On the other hand, imbalances such as too much progesterone can cause your body to tire regardless of how much sleep you get. Good sleep is always important to the human body, and a hormonal imbalance that affects it in any way should be addressed.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a greater danger for women during and after menopause. Those who suffer from sleep apnea may stop breathing during sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a result of throat muscles relaxing as the body sleeps and preventing air from passing as you rest. Lower estrogen levels correlate to the rate of OSA cases. OSA presents particular dangers that should be addressed with the help of a medical professional.

Osteoporosis

Estrogen is an important ingredient in healthy bones. When women suffer from low estrogen levels, especially after menopause, bone loss and bone weakness can become a concern.

More than half of all women over 50 suffer injuries due to osteoporosis, but regaining estrogen balance can help patients retain bone health. Concerns over thinning bones should be discussed with a doctor.

Mood Swings

Hormone levels have a direct effect on our mood and irritability. As such, these symptoms are commonly associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Estrogen levels affect dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine neurotransmitters. While these symptoms can be a natural effect of the menstrual cycle, they can be even more severe when ongoing imbalances are at play.

What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a treatment that helps relieve symptoms related to female menopause and other hormonal imbalances. From vaginal dryness to bone loss to sexual dysfunction, HRT helps combat symptoms related to the diminished levels of hormones, especially during menopause, through medications containing female hormones to replace those the female body no longer makes.

HRT is also known as menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) or postmenopausal hormone therapy (PHT, PMHT). It is most effective when tailored to a patient’s unique needs and re-evaluated for safety and effectiveness.

Some systematic replacement options include pills, creams, sprays, or patches that can relieve symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, or discomfort during intercourse. Other times, low-dose vaginal products in cream or ring forms can treat vaginal symptoms directly without addressing other symptoms such as hot flashes or osteoporosis.

The premier method of HRT is pellet therapy. Women who have not had their uterus removed will often be addressed differently than those who have. Because of the role hormones play in the growth of the uterus lining, medications will vary depending on whether the patient has undergone a hysterectomy.

How Does BioTE Work?

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is one particular form of hormone replacement therapy that identifies imbalanced hormones in the female body. When a lacking hormone is identified, replacement bioidentical hormones are added to achieved balanced hormone levels.

The best BHRT treatments allow for easy integration into the body where cells can receive instructions from the bioidentical hormones for optimal function and the patient’s overall well being.

The BioTE Difference

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can be tailored more specifically to each patient through BioTE pellet therapy. Every patient has a particular hormone dosage requirement based on specific hormone loss. By identifying the hormones that are imbalanced and supplementing them with the proper replacement dosage, alternative health concerns can also be eliminated or identified for further consideration.

What Does Pellet Therapy Entail?

The most effective BHRT with BioTE therapy is accomplished with pellets. This therapy is delivered by placing a pellet under the skin for a fast and safe method of replacement hormone delivery. Unlike other delivery methods, pellet therapy ensures users receive a consistent dosage throughout the day, unlike creams or other methods that can easily result in inconsistent amounts being applied.

Pellet therapy is highly advanced for safety and efficiency while offering comfort and overall health benefits. The small, consistent doses of hormones released into the body provide optimum therapy.

Some patients using oral or cream therapies experience fluctuating hormone levels that result in varying energy levels and wide mood swings. BioTE pellet therapy, on the other hand, uses compound hormones compliant with strict federal guidelines to create a pellet smaller than one grain of rice. The pellet is easily implanted through an in-office visit, and the difficulties of other therapy methods are avoided.

Pellet therapy can compound estrogen as well as testosterone and can be used in the health of both men and women, although female therapy is more common.

Is Hormone Replacement Therapy for You?

If you suffer from symptoms you fear may be related to a hormone imbalance, there is no time like the present to seek a consultation from the professionals at Quench Wellness in Chicago, IL. Quench partners with BioTE medical for innovative pellet therapy that may be just what you need to get back on track. Give them a call today.

Age, illness, and stress can create a destructive hormonal imbalance in the body that impacts your health, happiness, and ability to connect with others. These imbalances are so sneaky that you may not even know that you have one. Quench Wellness in Chicago, IL is your local source for all things hormonal. We offer world-class testing and bioidentical hormone therapy to restore harmony in your life.

What Are Hormones and Why Do They Matter?

We don’t see them, but hormones are always acting behind the scenes to make your body function. Over 200 of these molecular chemicals flow through the body to deliver messages to the organs. Telling your lungs to breathe, heart to beat, and your stomach to eat are among the many instructions these chemical messengers give.

Because hormones have such an essential role in the body, an imbalance can throw your life into a frenzy in unexpected ways. Hormone imbalances aren’t always straightforward and can look like other conditions. Getting tested and treated for a hormone imbalance is the best way to regain your health, vitality, and wellbeing.

What Is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)?

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is a revolutionary approach to identifying and treating male and female hormonal imbalances. This method uses plant-based hormones that have a structure identical to those produced in the body. Many people refer to this hormone replacement therapy as “natural hormone therapy.”

Hormonal changes can wreak havoc on your body, mind, and spirit. Sometimes these changes are so subtle that they sneak up on you. Some individuals suffering from the adverse effects of a hormone imbalance initially explain them away as situational disturbances instead of acknowledging them as the biological changes they are.

Restore Your Life

Taking action to discover the cause of your discomfort is crucial anytime you are facing unwanted changes in your physical or mental health. At Quench Wellness, we use precision methods to recognize any hormone imbalances or deficiencies in the body. After identification, we supplement or replace them with this advanced therapy.

The goal of bioidentical hormone therapy is to restore your hormones to correct levels. Restoring your hormone levels improves every area of your life. You can enjoy changes physically, mentally, emotionally, romantically, and socially.

Only the Best for Our Patients

We use only the highest quality bioidentical hormones found in a therapeutic pellet form. The body can’t tell the difference between the bioidentical hormones we use and those it produces naturally. You benefit from this in several ways.

What Causes Hormone Imbalances in Men and Women?

You deserve to live your best life. Steady hormone levels are paramount for living well. Hormone imbalances can create effects ranging from mildly annoying to devastating. No matter where you fall on the discomfort spectrum, you owe it to yourself to seek treatment. Our goal is to help you feel like yourself again.

Some common causes of hormonal imbalances include:

• Cushing’s disease
• Diabetes and insulin resistance
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Perimenopause
• Menopause
• Menstruation
• Stress
• Thyroid disorders

 

How Can I Tell If I Have a Hormonal Imbalance?

Men and women can experience unpleasant changes in their bodies resulting from shifting hormones, and each of the hormones presents different symptoms. General symptoms of a hormone imbalance are those that anyone can experience; however, there are also some symptoms specific to each sex.

General Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance

Women and men experience general symptoms from a hormonal imbalance. When adrenaline, insulin, and growth hormones shift, they can create unpleasant symptoms in anyone. When these types of hormones aren’t stable, you might experience:

• Changes in body temperature
• Disturbed sleep cycles
• Fatigue
• Higher heart rate
• Increased stress levels
• Impaired sexual functioning
• Issues with reproduction
• Fluctuating mood
• Low sex drive
• Pain, stiffness, or muscle weakness
• Weight gain

 

Women’s Hormone Imbalance Symptoms

Most women expect hormonal changes to happen throughout life because they’ve experienced hormone shifts every month since puberty. Changes also occur during pregnancy, breastfeeding, perimenopause, menopause, early menopause. A triggering condition like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) can also usher in unwanted hormonal shifts. Some forms of birth control may also trigger hormonal imbalances in women.

Estrogen and progesterone are usually at the root of female-only hormonal deficiencies. Symptoms specific to women are:

• Brain fog
• Breast changes
• Breast tenderness
• Clitoral enlargement
• Hair loss
• Headaches and migraines
• Heavy periods
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Vaginal atrophy
• Vaginal dryness

 

Men’s Hormone Imbalance Symptoms

Men aren’t exempt from experiencing hormonal imbalances. Testosterone is often to blame when symptoms manifest. Common male symptoms of an imbalance include:

• Breast enlargement
• Body hair loss
• Body mass reduction
• Erectile dysfunction (ED)
• Sperm count lowers

 

Do I Need to See a Doctor About My Hormonal Imbalance?

Hormones have a delicate balance that only a doctor can test and oversee. Because there are hundreds of hormones in the body, it’s impossible to know what’s causing your symptoms without medical testing.

If you have symptoms of an imbalance, it’s easy to think you can handle the issue on your own, but this isn’t a good idea. Many other conditions mimic the symptoms of a hormonal imbalance, and we must rule out all other conditions before treatment.

It’s important to meet with your doctor for comprehensive testing to ease symptoms and bring your body back into balance. Once we establish your diagnosis, we provide precision treatment options like HRT with BioTE to restore your health and wellbeing.

Advantages of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

BHRT is helping millions of patients all over the world to restore harmony and balance in the body. The advantages of bioidentical hormone therapy are the number one reason they choose this treatment. Below we look at some of the many benefits of using BHRT to treat hormone imbalances.

You’re Never Alone

You are not alone with BHRT. Changes can feel scary, but our friendly and professional team is with you every step of the way. We get to know you and your body to find the best ways to help. When you take the first step toward us, we’ll take ten steps toward you. Our patients are our top priority, and we do everything we can to provide superior care.

More Natural Approach

BHRT mimics your body’s hormones. One of the most significant reasons this therapy is the preferred choice is that it’s more natural than alternative hormone replacement therapies. BHRT hormones are synthesized from plants, and the body embraces them. This treatment is even suitable for individuals sensitive to other hormonal therapies.

Accurate Test Results

You always know where you stand. Hormones used in other therapies don’t always provide correct testing results because they don’t blend into the body very well. Using BHRT means that when you treat your hormone imbalance, you can accurately track how well the therapy is working.

Low Maintenance

This isn’t a daily hassle. With bioidentical hormone therapy, you don’t have to remember to take pills or take time out of your day for treatment. After we administer therapy, women are good to go for three months, and men won’t need to return for up to five months.

Manage Hot Flashes

Hot flashes don’t have to interrupt your life. Hot flashes are never pleasant, and you never know when they might strike. You may feel fine one moment and the next you’re in a sauna. This inconvenient symptom can make work, sleep, and social engagements unbearable. BHRT reduces hot flashes so you can get back to living.

Stabilize Mood

BHRT can make mood swings a thing of the past. It’s well known that hormonal mood swings can negatively impact relationships; they can also take a toll on your self-esteem. No matter which area of your life takes the biggest hit from oscillating moods, BHRT can help.

Clearer Thoughts

Regain your focus. Hormones could be at play if you are battling brain fog, absent-mindedness, or memory issues. Don’t reach for caffeine. Instead, book a consultation with us to find the underlying cause of these changes. If a hormone imbalance is affecting your thinking, BHRT can bring you back up to speed.

More Energy

Seize the day. BHRT is here if you are tired of feeling tired. Fatigue is a common complaint shared by individuals experiencing hormonal imbalances. You may feel fine in the morning but dread the midday decline. When these plant-based hormones boost hormone levels, you’ll have more energy during the day, all day.

Prevent Hair Loss

Save your mane. Thinning and falling hair is a common sign that hormones aren’t balanced. Individuals who don’t know that BHRT can help might chalk hair loss up to genetics or the natural process of aging. Choosing this therapy could help you keep your hair.

Deter Digestive Disturbances

Heal your gut with BHRT. Although they may not seem connected, hormones dictate your digestive tract, and shifting hormones can trigger IBS. Managing GI-related hormones with BHRT can prevent painful symptoms from developing.

Prevent Bone Loss

Keep your bones strong with BHRT. Bone loss and osteoporosis are linked to hormone deficiencies directly. We need our bones to carry our weight and get us to where we need to go. Caring for your bones with BHRT now can prevent breaks and fractures later.

Better Sleep

Sleep like a baby. If your sleep isn’t as relaxing as it once was, it could be a sign that you have imbalanced hormones. Sleep loss isn’t just a nighttime concern. The body heals itself when we sleep and feeling tired during the day can impact your relationships, job, and safety. Choosing BHRT can bring your body back to its normal, sleepy self at night to maximize your overall health and wellbeing.

Enhance Pleasure

BHRT combats sexual dysfunction. Hormones play a vital role in sexual health. If sexual hormones are out of whack, your romantic life can suffer. Men experience ED while women struggle with vaginal atrophy and dryness; both can feel less motivated to engage in sex at all. Treating the underlying hormonal cause of these conditions can reinvigorate your sexual desire for a long-term pleasure enhancement.

How Long Will It Take for Bioidentical Hormone Therapy to Work?

BHRT isn’t a quick fix but a long-term solution. You’ll notice changes as early as three weeks after your appointment. The optimal benefits of treatment can take three months to appear. Although the changes aren’t immediate, once activated, you’ll enjoy relief for a long time.

Am I a Candidate?

Anybody who thinks they may have a hormonal deficiency or hormonal imbalance could be a candidate for bioidentical hormone therapy. Your treatment begins with thorough testing. We investigate your hormone levels to learn what’s causing your symptoms. Patients with severe symptoms are especially good candidates for this therapy. Those suffering from disturbed sleep, night sweats, headaches, or other debilitating symptoms benefit most from this hormone treatment.

Scheduling a consultation with us is the best way to find out if you are a candidate for BHRT. We need to meet with you in person to get to know you and understand what you’re experiencing.

Schedule a Consultation

There are many advantages to choosing bioidentical hormone therapy, and it can change your life for the better. We’ve already helped patients just like you restore serenity to their lives. Contact us today at Quench Wellness in Chicago, IL to schedule your consultation.

Can a powerful dose of vitamins really transform the way you feel? You may be surprised to learn that a vitamin B12 injection from Quench Wellness in Chicago, Illinois not only gives you energy but also helps your body maintain optimum efficiency.

What Is Vitamin B12?

You could consider Vitamin B12 the “Superman” (or woman!) of vitamins. This water-soluble vitamin is vital for many important bodily functions, including the formation of red blood cells, DNA synthesis, and nerve regeneration. For this reason, it’s been used to help enhance athletic performance, fight fatigue, and provide additional energy to get through hectic schedules.

This vitamin exists in several forms, and because it contains a bit of a mineral called cobalt, the compounds within vitamin B12 are often referred to as cobalamins. All of the B vitamins play an important role in your body’s metabolism and health, but vitamin B12 plays a particularly prominent part.

The B vitamins, and particularly vitamin B12, play a vital role in how your body produces what it needs for energy. If you’re deficient in vitamin B12, an injection will definitely give your energy level a boost. In fact, one of the first signs of vitamin B12 deficiency is fatigue.

What Is a Vitamin B12 Injection?

This is a dose of vitamin B12 administered through intramuscular injection, and it’s designed to give a healthy dose of energy, as well. An injection is an efficient way for vitamin B12 to be delivered into the system.

Vitamin B12 injections offer several benefits including:

• Enhanced metabolic functions
• Enzyme production
• DNA synthesis
• Nerve regeneration
• Hormonal balance
• Mood improvement
• Skin pigment balance
• Youthful skin
• Increased energy

Your body can’t store vitamin B12, so a vitamin B12 injection can be repeated once a week, and it’s important to have repeat injections to ensure your body is functioning at its optimum level and receiving the vitamin B12 it needs to remain focused and healthy.

Great for Hair, Skin and Nails

Because Vitamin B12 has a unique role in the production and regeneration of cells, this means that it’s important to have healthy levels of this vitamin to have healthy skin, hair and nails.

If you do have a vitamin B12 deficiency, it will show up in different dermatological areas. These include:

• Discolored nails
• Changes in hair
• Hyperpigmentation
• Patchy loss of skin color (vitiligo)
• Angular stomatitis (cracked corners of the mouth)

Treatment with vitamin B12 has been shown to help alleviate these conditions.

How Much Vitamin B12 Do You Need?

Your body doesn’t make vitamin B12, so you’ll need to get it from supplements on a regular basis. Remember that your body is not able to store vitamin B12 for long periods of time.

How much you need will actually vary on many things, such as your age, your nutrition, your medical condition and any medications that you may be taking. In general, the normal range for vitamin B12 is around 200 to 900 picograms per milliliter (pg/ml). Anything less than 200 pg/ml is generally considered to be a deficiency.

General recommendations are for 2.4 micrograms (mcg) a day, although those who are elderly or breastfeeding women may need more. Teens and adults should have 2.4 mcg of vitamin D, and the National Institute of Health recommends that pregnant women should have 2.6 mcg and breastfeeding women 2.8mcg. There’s no recommended upper limit for B12, so “overdosing” is not a concern. Many times, a vitamin injection will deliver doses of the vitamin in a more efficient way than taking supplements or pills.

Who Is at Risk for Vitamin B12 Deficiency?

If you’re not sure if you’re getting enough of this powerful nutrient, you should consider getting a blood test to see what your body’s levels are. This will help you determine the benefits of a vitamin B12 injection.

Did you know that as you age, it’s more difficult for your body to absorb and process this vitamin? If you’ve had bariatric (weight loss) surgery or if you heavily use alcohol, you may also have difficulty absorbing this vitamin. If you have any of the following conditions, you should be aware that it’s more likely that you could develop a vitamin B12 deficiency:

Atrophic gastritis

This is a condition where the lining of your stomach has thinned.

Intestinal Conditions

Any medical condition that affects your large or small intestines can have an effect on how your body absorbs vitamin B12 and how much of it you’ll need to have to replenish it.

These intestinal conditions include:

• Crohn’s disease
• Celiac disease
• Bacterial growth
• A parasite

Disorders of the Immune System

These can include conditions such as lupus or Graves’ disease.

Certain Medications

There are certain medications that can inhibit your body’s ability to process vitamin B12. These medicines include certain heartburn medications, proton pump inhibitors, diabetes medications (such as Metaformin), and H2 blockers.

Vegan Diets and Vitamin B12

There are many who have embraced the vegan diet. However because vitamin B12 is primarily found in animal products such as milk, cheese, and eggs, vegans are at higher risk of having a vitamin B12 deficiency. If you are a vegan, you may wish to consider getting one of these injections to ensure that your body is operating at its optimum level.

What Are the Signs of a Vitamin B12 Deficiency?

The main concern over a vitamin B12 deficiency is that it can lead to anemia, a condition where there are fewer healthy red blood cells. While mild deficiencies may not cause any symptoms, if the problem is not corrected it can lead to:

• Fatigue and weakness
• Pale skin
• Gastrointestinal problems such as constipation, gas, or diarrhea
• Heart palpitations
• Muscle weakness
• Tingling feeling in the muscles
• Mental health issues such as depression or behavioral changes

How Does the Body Absorb Vitamin B12?

The body has to absorb Vitamin B12 in two steps. First, in the stomach, acid separates the B12 from the food. Then, it combines with a protein created in the stomach and is absorbed by the body. This is why some of those who have had weight loss surgery or surgery to remove part of the stomach have difficulty absorbing the vitamin B12 they need from foods.

Additional Benefits of Vitamin B12

Extensive research has gone into exploring the various conditions that vitamin B12 can help with to assist your body in becoming healthier. While scientists are still exploring all the possibilities, there are some other interesting aspects to Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 May Help Prevent Birth Defects

Certain studies have shown that vitamin B12 levels can help women have a healthy pregnancy by helping the fetus’s brain and nervous system during development.

Some also believe that having an adequate amount of vitamin B12 can help decrease the chances of premature birth or miscarriage.

Vitamin B12 May Help Prevent Osteoporosis

Because of its restorative nature, healthy B12 level can support bone health. Studies have shown a link between low vitamin B12 levels and osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become brittle and easily break, and postmenopausal women are at particularly higher risk of the disease.

Macular Degeneration

This is a serious disease that can severely damage your vision and it is one of the major causes of vision loss in the United States. Maintaining recommended levels of vitamin B12 can possibly prevent age-related macular degeneration. How?

Homocysteine is a type of amino acid that populates your bloodstream, and vitamin B12 lowers this level. High homocysteine levels are associated with increased risk of age-related macular degeneration.

Vitamin B12 Can Help Battle Depression

Vitamin B12 can do much more than merely improve your mood: it can play a major part in metabolizing serotonin. Serotonin is the chemical in your body that is important to help regulate mood and emotions.

In certain studies, vitamin B12 has been found to improve the symptoms for those who are struggling with depression. Other studies showed that those who had both antidepressants and vitamin B12 were more likely to demonstrate an improvement in their symptoms.

Higher vitamin B12 levels are also linked to better outcomes and recovery for those who are struggling with major depressive disorder. If someone already has a vitamin B12 deficiency, then utilizing a vitamin B12 injection can help lift their mood.

Vitamin B12 Is Great for Your Brain Health

We’ve already mentioned how vitamin B12 can lift mood and aid those battling depression. But it can also prevent the loss of neurons that are important for brain function. This means that it may help reduce the risk of developing dementia or memory loss.

Research has shown that those with low levels of vitamin B12 tend to have poorer memories, so restoring those levels to normal can help cognitive function.

Vitamin B12 May Help Your Heart

You may have never heard of homocysteine, but this amino acid has been shown to have a link to an elevated risk of developing heart disease. Heart disease is currently the leading cause of death of Americans.

Those who have a good, healthy level of vitamin B12 have fewer of the amino acid homocysteine. This could result in a decreased risk of heart disease. However, it’s important to note that there is still not enough solid evidence to give 100% certainty that taking vitamin B12 will reduce your risk of heart disease; but many researchers do believe there is some kind of link between vitamin B12 and heart health.

Interesting Facts

Vitamin B12 is a vitamin that has tremendous benefits for our body, and you might find the following facts interesting:

Vitamin B12 Isn’t Found in a Lot of Natural Foods

Dairy products, fish, eggs, meat and chicken have rich amounts of vitamin B12, but even that might not be enough to give the body the complete amount of vitamin B12 needed.

Your Body Can’t Store Vitamin B12 for Extended Time

Even if you eat all the right foods that are rich in B12, that doesn’t mean your body will be able to retain the vitamin. Your body isn’t able to store the vitamin for long periods of time. In addition, age plays an important factor. As we age, the body’s natural absorbency rate decreases, making it even more difficult to hold on to this important vitamin.

Ready to Get an Energy-Boosting Injection?

The extensive benefits of vitamin B12 can’t be denied. It impacts every aspect of your health, from boosting your metabolism to giving you energy to reducing your risk for developing certain diseases. Because your body can’t effectively store B12, it’s important to get an injection on a regular basis. You can get the boost of energy you need through vitamin B12 injections. Call Quench Wellness in Chicago, Illinois for an appointment today to learn more.

You understand the basic mechanics of weight loss: you need to consume less fuel than your body burns. You try to eat less. You try to move more. But there are days you can’t force yourself to exercise. There are days you can’t force yourself to put down the spoon. You need professional help. At Quench Wellness in Chicago, IL, we believe passionately in helping our clients live life to the fullest. Today, we reveal what you can expect from a weight loss program to help you determine if it is right for you.

10 Things to Expect From a Weight Loss Program

1. One-on-One Health Coaching

Weight loss isn’t about seeing the number on the scale go down. It is about building better life habits by switching one habit for a sustainable, healthy habit. Changing habits one at a time will take time. However, this type of change is sustainable. It lays the foundation for a completely new way of life.

At Quench Wellness in Chicago, IL, we work with you one-on-one to learn about your food triggers, current eating habits and more. With this information, along with what you enjoy eating, we will educate you on health and help you identify a diet you can stick to and enjoy.

2. Community Support

It takes a village to raise a child. Sometimes, it takes a community for one person to lose weight. At Quench Wellness in Chicago, IL, we offer you an entire support system. Whether you need help making the right decision about what’s for dinner or you need some encouragement to go on your first run, we are here for you.

We know weight loss isn’t easy, and we don’t believe you should go through the journey alone. Support is critical for success. We provide the network you need to achieve lifelong success.

3. Keto Flu Relief Infusions

For many people, a low-carb diet is the best way to lose weight. Some people find a “paleo” diet more sustainable. Others find a “keto” diet more sustainable. Regardless, people who reduce their carbohydrate intake significantly enough may develop what is known as “keto flu”. Keto flu refers to a “condition” characterized by suffering from flu-like systems. This occurs as your body switches from burning glycogen for fuel to stored fat.

Our proprietary keto flu blend can banish symptoms of keto flu, including dehydration, muscle cramps, low energy, mental fog and headache. While you’re not suffering through the transition period, you can stick to your new diet, exercise efficiently and enjoy your new life.

4. Personal Training and Boutique Classes

No matter where you are in your fitness journey, expert help can take your workout routine and fitness level to the next level. Dr. Chantale will sit down with you to learn about your workout preferences, aesthetic goals, limitations and experience with exercise. Whether you haven’t exercised since P.E. in high school or you were the president of your university’s triathlon club, we will design a customized workout plan you can stick to and enjoy.

We also offer boutique classes to get you active in fun, sustainable ways. For example, we offer Zumba in the South Loop. Classes are $10 each and begin at 10 AM every Sunday.

5. Slim and Trim Vitamin Infusions

Besides infusions for keto flu relief, we also offer the Slim & Trim infusion. Whether you are looking to tone your figure or burn that last stubborn bit of fat from your stomach, this infusion can help you achieve your aesthetic and wellness goals. Our proprietary blend of vitamins and nutrients boosts your metabolism and elevates energy levels thanks to the essential B vitamins. This blend also helps your fat cells release pesky excess adipose tissue.

The Slim & Trim infusion also supports adequate circulatory flow, blood sugar regulation and healthy lymphatic system function to detoxify your body. This infusion is the perfect complement to regular exercise, a healthy diet and the lipotropic B12 fat metabolism boost. This infusion can also ease symptoms related to female hormone imbalance and combat seasonal affective disorder. You may also benefit from adding a glycine boost to enhance your focus and further support healthy blood sugar levels.

6. Nutrient Fuelings

When you crave fried chicken or a greasy hamburger, your body is usually low on iron. Such cravings can be quelled by eating alternative high-iron foods, such as black beans or spinach. When you’re craving a salty snack, like pretzels or popcorn, there’s an excellent chance that your body is low on sodium. You may also be dehydrated. To quell such cravings, you only need to hydrate your body. When eaten in moderation, cheese is an excellent high-sodium alternative.

7. Lean B Fat Burning Shots

There are eight essential B vitamins. These vitamins are necessary for the adequate function of several systems, including your musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, pulmonary system and nervous system. If your body doesn’t have adequate levels of B vitamins, you may notice several symptoms, including weight gain, inability to focus, memory loss and lethargy.

Lipotropic B12 Fat Metabolism Boost

We proudly offer a lipotropic B12 fat metabolism boost. This is administered via intramuscular, or IM, injection. This fat-burning shot revs your metabolism for 72 hours. Other benefits include a propensity to burn fat for fuel, improved immune and liver function and increased energy. In other words, your body will choose to burn more fat for fuel than carbs. Moreover, thanks to the revved metabolism, your body will burn more calories over the following 72 hours than it would have without the booster.

However, because your energy is also boosted, you may find that you exercise just a little harder. Any additional exercise you perform in the three days after treatment will only compound the benefits of the booster. If you have stubborn pockets of fat attached to your hips, inner thighs, buttocks, neck or stomach, you may find regular injections with this booster can help you perfect your aesthetic.

8. Comprehensive Health Screening

Sometimes, weight gain is caused by imbalanced hormone levels or another medical condition. Before you begin your final weight loss journey with Quench Wellness in Chicago, IL, you will undergo a comprehensive health screening. This allows us to identify any undiagnosed underlying medical conditions. This will tell us if you need to follow a particular diet or your workout plan needs an extra special tweak.

If there’s a chance your weight gain was triggered by a medical condition, we may be able to treat the root cause of your weight gain. For example, if you gained weight due to hormone imbalance, we offer bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Your hormone levels may be imbalanced if you experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Unexplained abdominal weight gain
• Lethargy
• Disinterest in sex
• Cognitive impairment
• Memory loss
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Hot flashes
• Excessive nighttime urination
• Muscle loss
• Hair loss

 

9. Challenges

Are you a Type A individual struggling to lose weight? If you are, a medically supervised weight loss program may be just what the doctor ordered. On your weight loss journey, you will experience periods where you maintain weight for weeks at a time before your body decides to release the fat. This is known as the “woosh” effect and can drive people to quit before they see the weight come off.

We hate to see people give up, especially when they are so close to hard-earned success. We know that challenges often push people to do greater things than they thought they were capable of doing. That’s why we offer our clients fitness challenges, so they can see their improvements even if the scale doesn’t move one week. If you hate agility, strength, speed or endurance exercises, you may find a challenge is just what you need to shift your mindset and improve your quality of life.

10. Results

The results derived from participating in a medical weight loss program will vary from person to person. However, if you follow your program honestly, you can expect to lose between three and five pounds in your first week. A lot of this will be water weight. But you can easily expect to lose one to two pounds of bona fide fat after your first week.

Health Benefits

If your general physician recommended weight loss for you, he probably didn’t care about the number on the scale. Doctors often use your BMI (body mass index) to identify your degree of risk of developing dangerous medical conditions. These medical conditions include type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke and joint pain.

After a month of sticking to a medical weight loss plan, you will find that your friends and family notice improvements in your body image. After two to three months, you will start to see these changes yourself. These changes mean you are losing fat, building muscle or both. This is excellent for your health. Over time, you can also reverse type 2 diabetes, alleviate hip and knee pain, lower your blood pressure and bring your bad cholesterol down to a healthy level.

Frequently Asked Questions About Weight Loss

Can I Cut and Bulk at the Same Time?

One of the most common weight-loss misconceptions we hear is that you can’t burn fat and build muscle simultaneously. People who believe this are correct in their understanding that you have to eat at a caloric deficit to lose weight.

What they weren’t adequately taught in school is that only two things need to be true to build muscle. First, you must push the targeted muscle past its breaking point so it can rebuild stronger. Second, your muscles need protein. With the right nutritional plan, it is absolutely possible to eat at a caloric deficit for fat loss while consuming enough protein to grow muscles.

Can I Lose 30 Pounds in Just 30 Days?

It seems that every summer there is a new magazine promoting a new diet promising you can lose 10 pounds in 10 days. This just isn’t realistic. There are 3500 calories in a pound of fat. Your body can only use 35.1 calories per pound of fat daily for fuel. If you have 30 pounds of excess body fat, your total fat mass is probably around 50 pounds.

You have more than enough stored fat for your body to consume for fuel to pull off a 30-pound fat loss in 30 days. However, you probably only burn between 1,200 and 2,000 calories per day. To achieve a pound of weight loss daily, even if you didn’t eat, you would need to exercise long enough to burn between 1,500 and 2,300 extra calories on top of your daily life activities. Even if you had time for this, your body couldn’t sustain it for 30 consecutive days.

Learn More About Medical Weight Loss Today

Do you need professional help to achieve your ideal weight? Are you ready to live your happiest, healthiest life? If you are, we can help. To book an appointment, contact us today at Quench Wellness in Chicago, IL. If you’re interested in our weight loss program, we invite you to complete our free wellness check-in assessment.